Chp 19

Northeastern Plain

A land with low hills and plains. Natural vegetation mostly prairie grass. Grass provided food for animals raised by herders. Two major rivers. The Liao river is shallow and the Sungari is deep. In the winder, the water freezes over and people use it as roads. Great Contrasts in climate. Short warm summers and dry and cold winters. Too cold and dry for growing crops. Invaders used to use the plain as a route to Inner China. The people were nomads and grew livestock such as sheep and cattle. They lived mostly in tents and ate meat. Lastly, they often invaded the North China Plain to get supplies.

Region

A part or section of a country.

Oases

A place, usually in a desert, where water can be found.

North China Plain

A region in the Huang He River valley, where Chinese civilization began. Flat region of grassland. Temperatures range from very warm to quite cold through the seasons. Sometimes called Land of the Yellow Earth because it is covered in yellow limestone silt from the Gobi Desert and carried by the Huang He. A good place to settle and grow crops. There was fertile land and farmers mostly grew wheat and millet. They lived in houses made out of rammed earth. They raised animals such as cattle and sheep and they herded animals such as water buffaloes.

Tributaries

A stream or river that feeds into a larger stream, river, or lake.

Evaporate

When a liquid such as water, turns into a vapor, or gas.

Tibet Qinghai Plateau

Also called Tibetan Plateau. Often called roof of the world. Covers almost a quart of China. Rocky land surrounded by towering mountains. The Himalaya mountains lie south. Climate is very cold and air is thin and dry. Snow falls the whole year. Two main rivrs begin here. The Huang He and Chang Jiang. Natural vegetation contains sparse scrubs and grases. Antelopes, yaks, and ox roam the area. Sometimes there are also wolves and wildcats. A challenging place to live. Too cold and dry for crops. But grasses provided was good for livestock. The cold and rocky plateau made it hard to travel to Inner China from the west. High elevation. The people moved frequently to find grazing land for their livestock. They ate meat, yogurt, and milk fro the yaks they raised. They used yak wool to create heavy clothing.

Ancient China Isolation

Geography caused most people to be isolated. Only the Northeastern Plain provided a path to Inner China easily. This is so because mountains, the plateau, large deserts, and a cold climate created a natural barrier. Also, the ocean was a natural barrier. These barriers prevented ideas, trade, transportation, communication, and the movement of military forces difficult with countries outside of China.

Early Settlement

It is believed that the first Chinese lived in caves and were nomads. As people turned to farming, they began to settle in Inner China where they created villages and grew crops near the Huang He. People mostly chose the North China Plain because there was plenty of water, fertile soil, and there was also a moderate climate. However, the land in Outer China was too cold and dry for crops. The Chang Jiang Basins were wet and fertile, but heavy rains might have created problems with farming.

Chang Jiang Basins

Low, wet coastal plains. Located along the Chang Jiang River. River provides fertile soil for farmers. Climate is warm and wet. Vegetation may have been thick rain forests. Little space for farming and not suitable for grazing animals. However, very good for growing rice. There was a lot of rice due to the wet and warm area. However, there was limited farmland and grazing land. There was a lot of seafood from the ocean. The people built permanent homes to raise animals.

Taklamakan desert

One of the most dangerous deserts in the world. Name means "once you go in, you will not come out." Desert winds create huge sand dunes to move. Sandstorms rise with great speed. Too dry for much vegetation. Bushes, weeds, and tress grow only near oases and rivers. Houses made of mud were located on oases. People grew a lot of cotton and wheat and they mostly ate wheat noodles, bread, and mutton.

Gobi Desert

One of the world's largest deserts. Few sand dunes and mostly stony. Surface made up of small pebbles and tiny bits of sand. Sparse vegetation and plants are small and widely spaced out. Houses made of mud were located on oases. People grew a lot of cotton and wheat and they mostly ate wheat noodles, bread, and mutton.

Chang Jiang River

River is longer than the Huang He River. Name means Long River. Also called the Yangtze river. Has hundreds of tributaries. Used to move goods between eastern and western areas. Begins in the high western mountains. Flows through three plains and a rich delta. Makes surrounding lands fertile. Less dangerous than the Huang He because there are less floods.

Huang He River

Sometimes called the Yellow River. One of the longest rivers in the world. Called yellow river because of the yellow limestone silt. The silt that is carried fertilizes surrounding lands. Helps and hurts farmers. It flooded more than 1,500 times and caused a lot of damage and loss. Used to be the route of the silk road.

Outer China

The Himalaya Mountains prevented settlement. A plateau created extreme coldness. Deserts created extreme hotness. Life was hard . Extreme in climate and physical features. Mountains, plateaus, deserts, and the Turfan Depression created a difficult place to live.

Climates

The average weather conditions at a particular place.

Contrasts

The differences between people or things, when they are compared.

Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han

The four dynasties from oldest to newest.

Inner China

The land was moderate. There were hills, valleys, and plains that were easy to navigate. Two rivers provided fertile land for farming. The weather was milder and less extreme. Most of ancient Chinese settled in this area and villages were developed. Closer to sea level than outer china. Rolling hills, river valleys, and plains. Two rivers flowed. Two main regions, the North China Plain and the Chang Jiang Basins.

Communicated

To exchange or share thoughts, feelings, or information with people, using words, writings, or other methods.

Enrich

To improve the quality of something.

Isolated

To set apart from other people or things.